On 27 Jan 2005 05:19:15 -0800, "Denny" wrote in
om::


The average time for either landing point: 8.5 hours portal to
portal...
Tickets ~$600.00 to $700.00 round trip (two people more or less
comfortably)

Flying ourselves, [...]
The average time: 8.5 hours portal to portal...
Fuel cost ~$870.00, round trip (5 seats comfortably)

[...] or we are on
a business trip with appointments in certain cities at a certain time,
the airlines have the distinct edge on dealing with inclement weather
and meeting schedules, [...]

What of battling the congested automobile traffic to the airline hub
airport, absurdly intrusive security measures, waiting interminably
for the airliner to board, being packed in a sealed vessel with, and
re breathing the same air as, hundreds of strangers who may be
infected with various maladies? Airline travel is no longer
"glamorous"; it reduces passengers to the status of "a revenue
generating member of the herd," and subservient drones. Private
flying is a three dimensional adventure in freedom.

For comparison Mapquest shows that if we drive it is 1350 miles and 22
driving hours... [...] Still, I haven't driven the trip
since the 1960's and don't intend to...

I don't know how the situation is where you are, but within 100+ miles
of Los Angeles the freeway congestion is so bad (mostly due to
bumper-to-bumper commuters and road work), that it renders long
distance automobile traffic very unpleasant indeed.